“The Bass Coast region has just one last remaining forest. Running north to south on Western Port’s eastern coastal foothills, it forms a vital biolink in a fragile ecosystem and it’s being ripped out for sand for Melbourne. It needs strong defenders if it is to survive this vandalism.”

“We are pleased with this outcome and the support of Mayor and Council”.

“Though the fight is far from won, Bass Coast Council has made the right decision in rejecting Dandy Premix’s plans to expand its Grantville sand mining operation,” Tim O’Brien said.

Mr O’Brien went on to say:

“The Dandy Premix permit application proposing to rip out the substantial forest at the rear of the site and the mealy-mouthed excuses this company made when admitting failure on its existing obligations to revegetate, should have seen this application sent straight to the dustbin.”

“Instead, at the company’s request, the Minister for Planning ‘called it in’. The strong stance taken by council for the environment, for the endangered wildlife and flora this forest habitat supports, and for the amenity of the Grantville community, deserves our thanks,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Our group, Save The Western Port Woodlands, thinks it is time to stand up to this Government and the mentality that it can plunder our natural areas and rip the guts out of this remnant coastal forest for bridges and carparks for Melbourne. Regional Victoria is not here to be plundered for the convenience of Melbourne. Our community must be heard on these issues that impact so heavily on the fragile Bass Coast environment, on the coastal amenity, and on the visitor economy.

“It is time the Andrews Government began listening to regional communities being negatively impacted by its blind rush to cover Melbourne in roads, bridges and tunnels. In Bass Coast, we only have one forest left to protect, and Minister Wynne thinks it’s ok to rip it apart?”

“We will be taking our objections to the Minister’s panel in March, but we will also be taking this campaign into Mr Wynne’s Richmond electorate. We think ripping out coastal forest, trading regional species extinctions for bridges and carparks, will play out very poorly in his inner-city electorate,” Mr O’Brien said.